Tag: City breaks in Asia

Seoul is truly a special travel destination: on the other side of the world, and in many ways similar to—yet different from—Europe. Honestly, you don’t even know where to start looking and marveling. And for those who are as fascinated as they are bewildered, I’ve brought back a little personal list from Seoul of things you really should see in person and in all their glory. You’ll find my very own list of the top sights in Seoul in this article.

#1 N Seoul Tower / Namsan Tower

The N Seoul Tower is located on the top of the highest mountain in Seoul, Mount Namsan. This makes the view from the tower even more fascinating, on clear days you have an incomparable view over the entire city.

You’ll go up first with an elevator, then with a cable car. Or you can hike up in about an hour. The area around the tower is a recreational area with beautifully landscaped gardens, some cafes and stores and a changing cultural program.

And the N Seoul Tower seems to be the place of pilgrimage for all newlyweds; railings and fences around the tower are covered all over with love locks, creating a fascinating colorful carpet of love locks. So crazy! 98% of the world’s production of padlocks probably ends up near the N Seoul Tower.

#2 Gwangjang Market: Seoul’s Famous Street Food Market

Not for the faint of heart. Mainly a fabric market, there’s also a small but effective street food corner here that will test even the toughest stomach. From dog meat soup to pigs’ feet and snouts, from live squid ready for slaughter to indefinable blood sausages, there’s everything you need to train for your next adventure in the jungle. Personally, it turned my stomach at the live sea worms, a marine animal without eyes looking like guts – that’s nothing for me, not even to look at.

Otherwise, there are also much more tolerable dishes, soy pancakes made from freshly ground soybeans (very tasty!) or freshly rolled noodles in broth.

#3 The Palaces

Seoul has several palaces from the times of the Joseon Dynasty – be sure to visit one of them. The largest is the Gyeongbokgung Palace.

#4 Whimsical Theme Cafés

Koreans seem to love cafés. (Note: bring time, usually the service is rather slow). And quirky cafes in particular. Like the sheep cafe Thanks Nature.

The two sheep belonging to the café are probably intended to bring alienated city dwellers closer to nature again. Whether the way of keeping is animal-loving and lifelike enough, so on bare concrete in a dark concrete, let’s see.

Or the Poop Café in Insadong. In this café, everything revolves around poop! Poop piles. Poop piles as a pillow, as a notepad or as a table decoration. Soups are served in small toilet bowls. Yum.

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#5 Seoul’s Public Transportation

Admittedly, the Berlin subway is no benchmark. But in any subway in Seoul, it’s so much cleaner than at home in my beloved-hated U7. Floors so smooth as glass you could eat off them. And even during rush hour, everyone is calm and disciplined, no crowding, no pushing, no bad vibes. So impressive!

#6 Food: From Bibimbap to Korean Barbecue

There are two dishes you have to try in Seoul! No visit to Korea without Bibimbap or Korean Barbecue.

Bibimbap is really just a bowl of rice with fresh vegetables and optional meat on top. Put some hot sauce in, stir it – and in addition, as with everything in Korea: Kimchi. Pickled, fermented white cabbage. Some people swear by it, but I don’t like it. But what the heck, trying is part of it.

The second famous dish: Korean Barbecue. I have to admit it didn’t blow me away either. At a Korean Barbecue you’ll grill the meat by yourself at the table, and you’ll be served a few varieties of – of course – kimchi and the whole thing is then rolled up with rice together in a thin lettuce leaf(!). In my case, it was a mess! I definitely need some more practice! So I wasn’t that impressed by the Korean Barbecue, but still the experience was worth it! And the atmosphere, which ranged from neon-lit canteen to noisy market hall, was also worth seeing.

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In the right place at the right time. It is freezing cold, but the day is sunny. And it is just the right, unfortunately far too short phase, when the autumn leaves still shine from the trees in their full color splendor. I wonder if the gardeners of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul planted the trees after that? It almost looks like it, because this cheerful warm mixture of all imaginable leaf colors is unique and too beautiful to be just a coincidence. Or it may simply be because the palace complex itself is very plain. No pomp, no gold, no flaunted wealth. And quite a lot of gray. Modesty is probably something original to Korea.

Tradition at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul – or: how to get in for free!

But not only the sea of leaves around the palace is colorful, but also its visitors: Many young Koreans in the most amazing traditional costumes buzz through the complex, taking selfies or draping themselves giggling in front of their cameras for the most beautiful photo. They also proudly let themselves be photographed with strangers, because Koreans are really happy from the bottom of their hearts when tourists are interested in their culture.

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No one really knows who came up with the idea of dressing up or what it’s really all about. But everyone’s having fun. And admission is free. Because if you show up in traditional dress, you don’t have to pay to get in! That said, the money saved is usually spent beforehand on a rental fee at one of the nearby costume rental shops—but who cares.

By the way, I didn’t pay any admission either—I wasn’t even in costume. On my way to the ticket booth, a Korean woman came up to me and pressed a ticket she’d bought by mistake into my hand. Why? Just because. “Take it as a gift. You look so nice. And enjoy Korea!” she said, and ran off happily. What a nice, cheerful people. Seriously.

Bukchon Hanok Village – an ancient village from the Joseon Dynasty

Near the palace is also Bukchon Hanok Village, a small, hilly neighborhood with well-preserved houses that dates back 600 years. Despite the crowds of tourists, it’s actually quite peaceful here. There’s a sign on just about every front door asking for quiet—and, fascinatingly, everyone obeys it, moving silently and deliberately through the narrow alleys.

In the alleys themselves, there are few, if any, restaurants, shops, or similar establishments. But a little further down, you’ll find charming little streets with the most idyllic cafés. Stop in, have some tea, and lose track of time.